Thyroidectomy Procedure

Thyroidectomy refers to the removal of the entire or part of the thyroid gland through a medical surgery. The thyroid gland rests at the base of the neck and makes a hormone from iodine, which is absorbed from foods we eat. At times, the thyroid gland develops problems and becomes enlarged calling for the control of this though Thyroidectomy. In this respect, this report entails the significant details that characterize the Thyroidectomy procedure.

The procedure starts in the pre-operative room. Just like in other surgery cases, there are a number of things that happen in the pre-operative room, that facilitate the effective transition of a patient to the operating rom. In the pre-operative room, a patient lies on a portable bed as he or she waits to taken into the operating room. A nurse inserts the intravenous into the patient to help in administering fluids during and after the Thyroidectomy. In the pre-operative room, a nurse reviews the patient’s medical history and other important life aspects, which involves the nurse preparing a Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation (SBAR) report. With this, the surgery team is able to get directions leading to a successive operation. The nurse also checks and verifies all legal documents necessary to guarantee the operation.

In the pre-operative room, the staff interacting with the patient includes the operative room nurse, the general preparatory technicians, the anesthesiologist, and the surgeon who appears just for brief pre-operation introduction. In the operating room, the staff includes the surgeon, the operation room nurse, the electronic technician, and the surgeon assistants. In the pre-operative room, the nurse interacts with the patient in a cool and kind manner, especially while asking for the information necessary to fill in the SBAR report. The general preparatory technicians, who fit the patient into the comfort of the prep bed, interact too at positive moods to him or her at ease. Once in operating room, the patient is usually unconscious due to the pre-operation anesthesia given to the patient by the anesthesiologist in charge. However, all the parties in the operation room interact in a coordinative manner to ensure the efficiency and the effectiveness of the entire operation process.

In both the pre-operative room and the operating room, the communication between the staff has a similar characteristic in the way it happens. The nurses in charge and the preparation technicians all appear well versed with the necessary requirements of the entire procedures. They exchange ideas and communicate in a reassuring manner indicating that they are quite aware of the task ahead of them. However, there is also a noticeable difference. Whereas in the pre-operative room the staff talk in loud and audible happy voices, that is not the case in the operating room. In there, the surgeon and the assisting nurses tend to remain in silence, just communicating through signs, and when they utter words, they are in very low tones.

Like in any other surgery, the procedure of Thyroidectomy involves the services of an operating room nurse. In essence, the operating room plays two important roles. One is as a circulator. In this role, the operating room nurse oversees all aspects of the patient’s experience during the surgery. In short, it is the coordination of an operating room. On the other hand, the operating room nurse operates as a scrub. This duty involves the passing of instruments and holding the retractors. In some instances, she even helps the surgeon to close the wound (Loring, 2013).

SCIP measures are involved in the Thyroidectomy procedure, just like in any other surgical operation. The reason behind the SCIP measures is to reduce or completely avoid postoperative infections to the patient. The measures thus concern the administration of prophylactic antibiotics, which prevent the occurrence of preoperative infections. Also as an additional measure to reduce the infections, sterile and clean techniques feature on operation tools (WOCN Committee, 2011). On the other hand, a time out refers to a period immediately before starting the operating procedure when the entire operative team meets. It happens in the operating room. Once in the time out, the entire operative team actively communicates using brief documents and checklists deciding on how to go through the procedure.

Once Thyroidectomy is over, a patient moves on to a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). However, this is only after critical assessment, planning, diagnosis and outcome evaluation is over. Before admission, the entire surgical procedure must be over. In addition, anesthesia reversal and extubation must also happen before the transfer to the PACU. Once admitted in the postoperative care unit, the nurse anesthetist makes reports on the condition of the patient, both during the surgery and while in the recovery unit.

I observed that the Thyroidectomy procedure happens under the same regulations that govern any other kind of operation. Similar protocols apply all the way from the admission of the patient in the pre-operative room to the admission in the postoperative unit. In the entire experience, I liked the fact that all the staff in all rooms had a genuine show of care and concern for the patient, a good motivator for the patient. However, one thing I did not like and would recommend for change is the use of pre-sterilized needles and blades for the surgery. In my opinion, it is better for the operative team to sterilize the operation tools in the operation site.

References

Loring, S. (2013). What do OR nurses do? Retrieved May 27, 2013, from Best Nursing Degree: http://www.bestnursingdegree.com/expert-advice/or-nursing